Display devices



Sept. 28, 1965 R. H. SHANK DISPLAY DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July18, 1963 INVENTOR.

R. HAROLD SHANK FIG.4

FIG. 5

Sept. 28, 1965 R. H. SHANK 3,208,173

DISPLAY DEVICES Filed July 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

fmz 25 INVENTOR. R. HAROLD SHANK BYgl United States Patent Office3,208,173 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 3,288,173 DISPLAY DEVICES Rufus HaroldShank, 3114 Cornell Ave., Dallas, Tex. Filed July 18, 1963, Ser. No.296,057 7 Claims. (61. 40-429) This invention relates to displaydevices.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved displaydevice which is easily and quickly mountable on a suitable supportstructure, such as a vehicle.

Another object is to provide a display device which has a minimum ofparts and is easily and quickly assembled and secured to a vehicle.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved display devicehaving a sign of inverted V-shape whereby messages carried on oppositeplanar sections thereof are prominently displayed and having a pair ofspaced holders for holding the sign.

Still another object is to provide a sign having planar sections movableabout an upper connecting or fold section, longitudinal axis of thelower edge portions of the planar section are receivable in convergentlyupwardly extending and opening aligned slots of a pair of holdersreleasably securable to a vehicle whereby the sign presents a minimum ofresistance to the air flow during the movement of the vehicle and theresilient force of the sign tending to move its planar sections awayfrom each other about the longitudinal axis holds the sign againstdisplacement from the holders.

A further object is to provide a sign wherein each holder comprises asubstantially vertical portion having a pair of upwardly opening andconvergent slots and means for securing the holder to a vehicle.

Another object is to provide a sign wherein the holder is substantiallyL-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and extends transverselyrelative to the direction of movement of the vehicle, the verticalflange of the holder being provided with upwardly convergent and openingslots for receiving the lower edge portions of the sign.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the display device ofthe invention mounted on the roof of an automobile;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, with some parts broken away, of thedisplay device illustrated in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a planar view of the sign prior to its bending into aninverted V-shape;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical view, with some parts broken away, of a modifiedform of the holder of the display device;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the holder illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the display device;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the holder of the display deviceillustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the holder for thedisplay device; and,

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of still another form of the holder.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawing, thedisplay device 10 includes a sign 11 formed of a rectangular flat blank12 which may be provided with a longitudinal connecting or fold portion13 which connects the two planar sections 15 and 16 of the sign andwhich may be defined as the fold or score line along which the signsections are foldable. The blank 12 may be formed of cardboard, plasticor other suitable substance which is somewhat resilient and resistsbending or folding along the score or fold line 13 so that when the twosections 15 and 16 of the sign are folded to form the inverted V-shapestructure, illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, a resilient force is exertedon the two sections 15 and 16 tending to move them upwardly andoutwardly relative to each other along the longitudinal axis of theconnecting or fold portion 13. The lower end portions of the planarsections 15 and 16 are received in the upwardly opening and convergentslots 17 and 18, respectively, of the vertical walls or flanges 21} ofthe holders 21. The two holders 21 are identical in construction andeach has a horizontal flange 22 to which are connected a pair of suctioncups 25 by means of the screws 26 which extend downwardly throughsuitable apertures in the horizontal flanges 22 into suitable threadedbores of rigid members 27 molded or bonded in the resilient suctioncups.

The pair of holders 21 are mounted parallel to one another andtransversely of the roof 30 of the automobile A with the slot 17 of eachholder aligned with the slot 18 of the other holder so that the lowerportions of the planar section of the sign 11 are each received inlongitudinally aligned pair of slots of the two holders.

A pair of belt strap assemblies 33 may be provided for each holder toassist the suction cups in securing the holders to the roof of theautomobile. Each strap assembly includes a hook 334 receivable in asuitable aperture 35 in the horizontal flange 22 of the holder 21, ahook 36 engageable with a gutter 37 or other lateral protruding elementof the automobile A, and a belt 38 which extends through the loop 39 ofthe hook 34 and through the slot 40 of the hook 36. The belt may beprovided with the usual buckle 43 by means of which the tension on thebelt may be adjusted. Each holder may be provided with two of the strapassemblies 33 to secure it to the automobile.

To assemble the device, the fiat blank 12 is folded along the foldportion 13 until the lower edges of the two planar sections 15 and 16thereof are in position to pass downwardly through the upper ends of theupwardly opening convergent slots 17 and 18. The planar sections arethen moved downwardly until their downward movement is limited by thelower surfaces 17a and 18a defining the lower ends of the slots 17 and18, respectively. The planar sections pivot outwardly as they movedownwardly into the slots and must also deform or bend during suchdownward movement, the somewhat resilient substance of which the blankis formed permitting such bending. The blank 12 resiliently resistsbending along the fold line 13 so that when the lower end portions ofthe two planar sections are disposed in the slots of the two holders,the resilient force thereof tends to move the outer surfaces of each ofthe sections 15 and 16 against the surfaces 17b and 18b defining theouter sides of the slots 17 and 18, respectively. Such resilient forcetherefore tends to hold the sign against displacement from the holders.Any upward movement of the sign in the slots also would require that thetwo sections 15 and 16 move toward each other since the slots 17 and 18converge relative to one another, and would require bending of oneplanar section or the other and thus the resilient force with which eachsection resists bending also tends to hold the sign against displacementfrom the holders.

The slots 17 and 18 may be of a width slightly smaller than thethickness of the substance of which the sign is made so that when theouter portions of the sections 15 and 16 are inserted into the slots,the sign is slightly compressed and frictionally engages the surfaces17b and 170 and 18b and 180 defining these slots. Longitudinal movementof the sign through the slots is thus also resisted by this additionalfrictional force due to the engagement of the sign with the surfaces 17band 170 and 18b and 180 defining the parallel sides of the slots.

The assembled display device is easily mounted on a supportingstructure, such as the roof 30 of the automobile A by positioning thetwo holders 21 on top of the roof of an automobile A, and then pressingdownwardly on the holders to cause their resilient suction cups toengage the roof and secure the holders against displacement from theroof. If desired, a pair of the strap assemblies 33 may then be securedto each holder by inserting their hooks 34 through the apertures 35 ofthe horizontal flange 22, engaging their hooks 36 with oppositelydisposed laterally protruding elements, such as the gutter 37, of theautomobile, and placing the belts 38 under tension by means of thebuckles 43 to thus help secure each holder to the automobile.

Since the sign extends longitudinally of the automobile, it presentsonly a thin end edge surface to the air during the travel of theautomobile so that even though the automobile may attain high rates ofspeed, the wind or air resistance of such narrow forward edge portionsof the sign is small and the force of the air acting against such verysmall area of the sign cannot overcome the frictional force holding thesign against movement relative to the holders 21. Any lateral ortransverse force applied to either section 15 or 16 is of courseresisted by the engagement of these sections with the parallel surfacesdefining the slots 17 and 18 and by the frictional engagement of thelower edge of at least one section with the bottom surface 17a and 18adefining the lower end of the slot in which such section is disposed.For example, a lateral or transverse force applied to the outer surfaceof the section 16 tends to move the section 16 toward the section 17which requires that the section 16 move upwardly in the slots 17 and 18in which it is disposed. Any such movement of the section 16 is resistedby the frictional engagement thereof with the parallel sides definingthis slot. Any such movement of the section 16 also tends to move thesection 15 downwardly as well as outwardly and such movement of thesection 15 is resisted not only by the frictional engagement of itssides with the parallel surfaces defining the slots in which it isdisposed but also by the engagement of its lower edge with the surfaces17a and 18a defining the lower end of the slots in which the section 15is disposed. The sign is thus held against displacement from the holderseven though the automobile may travel at high speeds and the sign besubjected to laterally as well as longitudinally acting wind forces.

It will now be seen that a new and improved display device of extremelysimple construction which is easily and quickly assembled and installedon a vehicle, such as on the roof of an automobile, has been illustratedand described and that it includes a sign of an inverted V- shape whichextends longitudinally of the automobile and a pair of holders spacedlongitudinally along the roof and extending transversely thereof, eachof the holders being provided with a pair of upwardly opening andconvergent slots in which are receivable the lower outer portions of thetwo downwardly and outwardly divergent sections of the sign.

It will further be seen that such section of the sign is frictionallyengaged by the holders and held against longitudinal, lateral and upwarddisplacement relative to the holders.

It will further be seen that the holders are securable to the roof bymeans of suction cups and, if desired, also by strap assemblies and thatsuch securing means 4 do not require the alteration or modification ofthe automobile in any manner.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 4 and 5, the holders 21 may, ifdesired, be provided with latches 50 pivotally secured by means of bolts51 to the vertical flange 20 of each holder. Each latch has a serratedor toothed outer surface 53 which is eccentric relative to the axis ofits bolt 51 so that when each latch 50 is rotated from the positionillustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 4 to its full line position, itsserrated surface 53 is between the parallel surfaces 17b and c or 18band c as the case may be and thus is in engagement with the outersurface of the sign section dispersed in such slot. The latches havehandles 54 by means of which they may be pivoted. The latches may beheld in their operative positions by friction locks 60 whose upper endsare pivotally secured to the horizontal flange 20 by means of the bolts61. Each bolt 61 extends through aligned apertures in the verticalflange 2i), and the friction washer 62 and through the nut 63 so thatthe force with which the lock is held against movement may be adjustedby varying the position of the nut on the bolt 61.

In use, when it is desired to install the sign 11 on a holder 20provided with the latches 50, the locks 60 are pivoted out of engagementwith the handles of the latches which are then rotated to move theirserrations out of alignment with the slots. The lower edge portions ofthe sign are then inserted downwardly into the slots 17 and 18 and asthey approach the surfaces 17a and 18a defining the lower ends of theslots, the latches are rotated in opposite directions to move theirserrated surfaces 53 into engagement with the outer sides of thesections downwardly in the slots. At the same time, the serratedsurfaces engage the outer sides of the section and hold them againstupward movement. When the sections are in their innermost positions, thelocks 60 are pivoted into engagement with the handles 54 of the latchesto hold them against accidental movement in opposite directionsreleasing the sign for movement out of the slots. The latch now holdsthe sign against movement relative to the holders.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 6 and 7, the display device 70includes a pair of holders 71 of modified form. Each holder 71 includesa cylindrical body 72 provided with upwardly opening and convergentrecesses 77 and 78 in which are received the lower portions of thesections 15 and 16 of the sign 11. Each holder includes a pair ofsuction cups 25 secured to its lower surfaces by means of the screws 80which extends through suitable recesses in the tubular member intothreaded bores of the rigid members 27 of the suction cup. The body ringalso may have an aperture 81 adjacent each end in which is receivablethe hook 34 of a strap assembly 33.

FIGURE 8 shows a holder which is of channel shape having a pair ofparallel vertical flanges 91 and 92 and a lower horizontal web 9-3 towhich are secured the suction cups 94 by means of bolts 95 which extendthrough suitble apertures in the web. The vertical flanges 91 and 92 areprovided with aligned upwardly opening and converging slots 91a and 91band 92a and 92b, respectively. It will be apparent that one section, forexample, the section 15 of the sign 11 is receivable in the alignedslots 91a and 92a of the holder and the other section 16 is receivablein the slots 91b and 92b so that the sign is held in its invertedV-shape position by the holders. The web may also have an aperture 97adjacent each end to receive a hook :34.

The holder 100 illustrated in FIGURE 9 is of substantially rectangularshape, having a pair of spaced vertical walls 101 and 102, a bottom wall103, and a top wall 104. The suction cups 25 are secured to the bot-tomwall by means of the bolts 105 which extend through suitable aperturesin the bottom wall. The bottom wall 103 is also provided with anaperture 106 adjacent each end for receiving the hook 34 of a strapassembly 33. The holder has upwardly opening and convergent slots and107 which extend through the top wall and through the vertical walls 101and 102 in which are receivable to the sections and 16 of the sign.

It will now be apparent that each of the different forms of the holdershas a pair of upwardly opening and convergent slots for receiving thedownwardly divergent planar sections 15 and 16 of the sign 11 and holdsthe sign securely.

The foregoing :description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A display device mountable on a vehicle including: a sign having apair of planar sections and means conneoting upper adjacent edges ofsaid planar sections, said sections extending divergently downwardlyfrom said connecting means, said connecting means resiliently biasingsaid planar sections upwardly and away from each other; and a pair ofspaced holders rigidly securable to a vehicle in longitudinally spacedrelationship relative to the vehicle, each of said holders having a pairof spaced upwardly opening and convergent slots, said planar sectionshaving portions positioned in said slots.

2. A display device mountable on a vehicle including: a sign having apair of planar sections movable downwardly toward each other andconnected to each other along a longitudinal fold line of said sign toposition-s wherein said sections extend divergently downwardly relativeto each other from said fold line and have longitudinal edges parallelto and spaced from each other; a pair of holders rigidly securable to avehicle in longitudinally spaced relationship relative to the vehicleextending transversely relative to said sign, each of said holdershaving an upwardly extending vertical planar member provided with a pairof spaced upwardly opening and convergent slots, the slots of saidholders being aligned, said planar sections having lower portions.disposed and held in said slots, said planar sections including meansat the line of connection to bias them upwardly about said fold line andaway from each other when said lower portions are disposed in saidslots.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said holders includes atubular member, said slots being provided in said tubular member.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein each of said holders includes achannel member having a horizontal web and a pair of spaced verticalflanges extending upwardly from said web, said slots being provided insaid flanges.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein each of said holders includes atubular member of rectangular cross-sectional configuration havinghorizontal top and bottom walls and spaced parallel vertical Wallsextending between said top and bottom walls, said slots being providedin said top and vertical walls.

6. The device of claim 2, and latch means movably secured on saidvertical planar member and engageable with said sections when saidsections are in said slots for releasably holding said sections againstmovement relative to said holder.

7. A display device mountable on a vehicle including: a longitudinalextending sign having a pair of planar sections and means connectingupper adjacent edges of said planar sections, said planar sectionsextending divergently downwardly from said connecting means andlaterally outwardly of the longitudinal axis of said sign and mountingmeans rigidly se-curable to a vehicle for holding said sign inlongitudinal alignment with the ve hicle, said mounting means havingtransversely spaced slots, said planar sections having lower edgeportions remote from said connecting means releasably held in saidslots, said connecting means biasing said planar sections upwardly andaway from one another when said lower edge portions are disposed in saidslots.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 96,445 ll/69Knight 120-28 176,030 4/76 Moore 83-620 537,391 4/95 Montgomery 40-12411,022,411 4/12 Georgeson 188-651 1,194,016 8/16 Harford 120-28 1,386,4698/ 21 Gomoll 40-10 X 1,624,900 4/27 Parkhurst 116-63 X 1,768,675 7/30Egan 40-1241 X 1,845,952 2/32 Wright 281-33 1,879,403 9/3 2 Monro 40-125X 1,885,282 211/32 OConnor 40-129 1,980,453 11/34 Tucker 40-415212,836,914 6/58 Nelson 40- 129 2,988,253 6/61 Menghi 224-421 FOREIGNPATENTS 200,585 11 2/ Australia.

8,500 1896 Great Britain. 85,474 5/ 5'5 Norway. 181,997 4/ 3 6Switzerland.

V/ALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner.

1. A DISPLAY DEVICE MOUNTABLE ON A VEHICLE INCLUDING: A SIGN HAVING APAIR OF PLANAR SECTIONS AND MEANS CONNECTING UPPER ADJACENT EDGES OFSAID PLANAR SECTIONS, SAID SECTIONS EXTENDING DIVERGENTLY DOWNWARDLYFROM SAID CONNECTING MEANS, SAID CONNECTIING MEANS RESILIENTLY BIASINGSAID PLANAR SECTIONS UPWARDLY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; AND A PAIR OF SPACEDHOLDER RIGIDLY SECURABLE TO A VEHICLE IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACEDRELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE, EACH OF SAID HOLDERS HAVING A PAIROF SPACED UPWARDLY OPENING AND CONVERGENT SLOTS, SAID PLANAR SECTIONSHAVING PORTIONS POSITIONED IN SAID SLOTS.